Method of building caisson gates and similar structures



April 10, 1945. J. LOEWENSTEIN METHOD OF BUILDING CAISSON GATES AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES Filed April 30, 1942 mm mm 00 m Patented Apr. 10, 1945 METHOD OF BUILDING CAISSON GATES AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES Jacob Loewenstein, New York, N. Y.

Application April 30, 1942, Serial No. 441,209

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of building caisson gates and similar structures.

Caisson gates are buoyant objects which generally are of the same nature as ships. Accordingly, the standard practice has heretofore been to build said gates on ways in conformity with accepted ship building procedure. Due to the very narrow beam and great height of the gates, however, instead of constructing them with their keels lowermost, it has been customary to erect them on ways with a side lowermost, and to launch them in this position. The gates are righted after launching by introducing ballast, or the like, in the manner well known to the art. This procedure involves complicated operations, requires relatively large ways and a relatively large amount of land, and needlessly subjects the structure to large stresses during launching and righting.

It is the object of my invention to provide a method for building caisson gates or the like structure which does away with these drawbacks. In general, my method consists in building the gates with their keel lowermost and laid on a temporary support. During the building operation and before completion of the gate, the temporary support is removed and the gate lowered into water. The lowering is so related to the stage of building that, at all times, the permanent supports carry a portion of the gross weight of the gate, never exceeding a predetermined tonnage, while the remaining weight is buoyantly supported. After completion, the gate is floated free of the permanent supports.

A further object of my invention is to provide a method of the character described, which shall be simple and easy to carry out and economical and efiicient to a high degree.

Other objects of my invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating one application of my invention and in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a finished caisson gate constructed in accordance with my invention and still retained on its permanent supports;

Fig, 2 is a side elevational View of the gate at an early stage of construction, showing the constructed portion of the gate carried on a temporary support;

Fig. 3 is an end view in partial section of the caisson gate shown in Fig. 2 and showing in dotted lines the position of said gate after lowering into the water for partial buoyant support;

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, showing the gate after dead weight, such as ballast and machinery, has been added and the gate has been further lowered into the water for additional buoyant support;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the gate completed and wholly buoyantly supported; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a shim employed during the lowering of the gate into the water. Referring now to the drawing, I have there illustrated my novel method, practiced in its simplest form for building a caisson gate ID.

First, a suitable building site S is selected,

where the depth of water is sufiicient to float the structure to be fabricated. For convenience, this site may be located alongside a pier I2, on which there is provided a long boom crane l4. On either side of the site, a plurality of supports which are preferably permanent in nature are firmly set in the water bed. Such supports may comprise a plurality of main clusters 16 of piles IB driven into the ground under the water. In accordance with my invention, the number, size and disposition of the piles in each cluster, as well as the clusters themselves, are so selected that the clusters will support with safety a predetermined aggregate gross Weight.

In addition to the main clusters I6, I may also provide auxiliary pile clusters 20 for a purpose presently to be described. Several such auxiliary clusters are illustrated in connection with the construction of the caisson gate ID, the number thereof being governed by the length and weight of the keel sections.

After 'all the piles in the clusters l6 and 20 have been driven and suitably stayed together, a temporary support or working platform is put in place. This support comprises a plurality of cross pieces 22 spanning oppositely disposed pile clusters I 6 and 2D. Said cross pieces are so arranged and spaced as to support the keel in horizontal position and obtain uniform stress distribution.

The, keel 24 is now laid upon the cross supports 22 and the lower portion 26 of the gate is constructed, working upwardly from the keel. When this lower portion is sufiiciently advanced in construction; for example, when it is approaching the stage shown in Fig. 2, temporary T-shaped, vertical channel brackets 28 are rigidly connected to the sides of the gate at predetermined points where the weight of the gate can best be carried without undue strain. These brackets 28 may be secured to the gate in-any suitable manner, such as for example welding. The projecting flange 30 of each of the brackets 28 is provided with a, vertical series of uniformly spaced apertures 32.

Carried on each of the main pile clusters I5 is a stationary supporting bracket 34 which is so arranged as to cooperate with one of the temporary brackets 28. Each of the stationary bnackets is designed to straddle a flange 30 of a cooperating temporary bracket 28 and is provided with a pair of registered apertures which match the apertures 32.

Located on each main pile cluster 15 is a hydraulic jack 38of standard construction. Said jack may comprise a hydraulic cylinder 40 in which a plunger (not shown) is vertically reciprocable. A vertical rod 42 attached to the plunger has at its upper end a movable supporting.

bracket 44 of the same general construction as the bracket 34, i. e. the moving bracket 44 is bifurcatedto snugly straddle a projecting flange 35 and has a pair of apertures which match the apertures 32.

The throw of the rod 42 and moving bracket 44 is at least equal to the distance between the'centcrs of adjacently disposed apertures 32.

A hydraulic gauge 46, connected to the cy i der 40, may be used to indicate the weight supported at any time by the hydraulic jack 38. A set of shims 48 (see Figs. 4 and 6) is provided with each hydraulic jack 38. Each of the shims comprises a rectangular metal plate 5i) having one of its edgesindented in the shape of a semi-circle 52 of such size that whena pair of shims 38 are arranged truth the semi-circular indentations in opposition, a circular aperture will be formed in which the rod 42 is freely slidable. When a jack 38' is extended, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a plurality of shims 48 are stacked, preferably in stagored relation, around the rod 42 between the cylinder 40 and the supporting bracket 44.

After the lower portion 26 of the gate has become so far advanced in construction that the temporary brackets have reached the level of the stationary and movable brackets 34 and M, the weight of the gate. is transferred from the cross pieces 22. Thi may be accomplished a follows:

The movable brackets 44 are pinned to the temporary' brackets 28 (see Fig. 3), the jacks raised slightly and the cross pieces knocked out. The jacks are now manipulated until a set of apertures 32 are horizontally aligned with the aperture in the stationary bracket 34. Tying, p ns 36 are then inserted through stationary brackets 34 and temporary brackets 28. The movable brackets 44 can now be slightly lowered and the pins connecting them to the temporary brackets 28 can be removed.

The predetermined aggregate tonnage which may safely be carried by the main pile clusters i6 is less than the gross weight of the completed caisson gate in. A stage will therefore be reached after the temporary support ha been removed, but while the keel is still suspended in air, when the dead weight of the partially constructed caisson gate approaches this predetermined, tonnage.

' This stage may be ascertainedv by adding together the weight of materials used. Upon reaching this stage (illustrated by the full lines of Fig. 1), the hydraulic jacks are extended to raise the movable brackets 44 from the aperture 32, with which they were horizontally aligned, to the next vertically higher apertures and tying pins 54 inserted through the newly aligned apertures in the temporary channel brackets 28 and movable bracket 34. Shims 48 are then inserted. The jacks are now slightly raised to relieve the pressure on the tying pin 36 connecting the stationary brackets 34 and temporary brackets 28. and said pins are removed. While the jacks are still slightly raised, the top pair of shims 48 are driven out. The jacks are then lowered the height of a shim. The next pair of shim is now driven out and the jacks 38 again manipulated so as to move the brackets 4 downwardly an amount sufiici'nt to take up the empty space leftby the removal of a pair of shims but not enough to place much pressure on the remaining shims. By manipulating the jacks in this manner, a safety controlis provided which will prevent uncontrolled descent of the caisson gate in the event of the failure of one or more of the jacks.

Shim are successively removed and the jacks the next vertically higher apertures.

lowered by steps until the caisson is dropped a distance equal to the space between adjacent apertures in the stationary brackets 34. The tying pins 36 are next re-inserted. The jack are now slightly lowered to relieve pressure on the tying pins 54', and these pins are removed.

The jacks are then again extended to line up the apertures in the movable brackets 44 with The lowering operation is repeated until the gate enters water.

The depth to which the gate is immersed is determined as follows:

The displacement of each unit of height of the caisson gate iscomputed in advance and the gate is lowered far enough so that the buoyancy of the water displaced leaves but a small dead weight supported on the piles 18. of this remaining weight may be checked by the gauges 4'6.

It is preferable to prevent the lowering from proceeding so far that the partially completed caisson gate i wholly buoyantly supported, since if the tide should happen to rise too high the caisson will. lift on the piles i8, and therefore it is desirable to leave a large enough load on the piles to avoid this contingency.

Such lowered position of a partly finished caisson gate is illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.

After the first lowering and while the gate is rigidly held in the stationary brackets 34, construction is carried forward and additional weight added by either building up the gate structure, adding nomstructural elements such as machinery M or ballast B, or both. The additional weight is carried by the piles [8 until the aggregate dead weight supported by the clusters 16 fully constructed or constructed to a degree sufficient for transportation to its place of use.

The last step in construction entails lowering the gate into the water by manipulation of the jacks 38 until it is fully buoyantly supported, at which time the tying pins areremoved and the gate allowed to float free, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

It may be mentioned that since the keel is horizontally disposed and the gate rigidly supported, despite the fact that it is built over and in water, relatively large prefabricated sections may be employed and mounted without using compensating angles on the levels. Thus, the speed of erection is greatly enhanced.

Portions of the temporary brackets are removed after they have passed below the stationary brackets 32 and preferably before said portions enter the water. The remaining portions of the temporary brackets are removed after the gate floats free.

The amount pleted gate is then lowered far enough to permit buoyant support of 800 tons, the remaining 200 tons being carried by the piles, Ballast and machinery totaling 800 tons are added and the gate further lowered or buoyantly support 1,600 tons and allow the remaining 200 tons to be carried the pile clusters. 800 tons more of structure is added to bring the overall weight of the gate to 2,600 tons and the gate once more lowered so that 2,400 tons are buoyantly supported and 200 tons carried by the piles. Finally, the remaining 400 tons are added and the gate lowered enough to allow it to float free.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a method in which the objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter here- 7 in set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a method of constructing a buoyant structure with the use of permanent supports adjacent water which are capable of aggregatively safely carrying a predetermined dead weight, that improvement comprising the steps of partially constructing said structure above water to a point where its gross weight does not exceed said predetermined dead weight, lowering said partially constructed structure thereof is buoyantly supported and the remainder of the gross weight is carried by said permanent supports, further constructing said structure so as to add an additional gross weight thereto approximately equal to the portion of the gross weight buoyantly supported, further lowering said structure into water to such an extent that apto such an extent that a portion of the gross weight thereof is buoyantly supported and the remainder of the gross weight is carried by said permanent supports. further constructing said structure so as to add an additional gross weight thereto approximately equal to the portion of the a gross weight buoyantly supported, further low ering said structure into water to such an extent that approximately all of the newly added gross weight is buoyantly supported, etc.

3. In a method of constructing a buoyant structure with the use of permanent supports adjainto water to u: such an extent that a portion of the gross weight proximately all of the newly added gross weight "lift cent water which are capable of aggregatively safely carrying a. predetermined gross weight and in which method a portion of the gross weight of said structure is carried on said permanent supports and the remainder of the gross weight buoyantly supported, that improvement which comprises the successive steps of adding to the gross weight of the structure until the weight supported by the permanent supports approximates but does not exceed said predetermined dead weight and lowering said structure to such an extent that approximately all of the newly added gross weight is buoyantly supported.

4. In a method of constructing a buoyant structure with the use of permanent supports adjacent water which are capable of aggregatively safely carrying a predetermined gross Weight and in which method a portion of the gross weight of said structure is carried on said permanent supports and the remainder of the gross Weight buoyantly supported, that improvement which comprises the successive steps of lowering said structure to such an extent that a predetermined minimum dead weight is carried by said supports and adding to the gross weight of said structure until said gross weight approximates but does not exceed the predeterminedrdead weight that can be safely carried by said supports.

5. In a method of constructing a buoyant structure with the use of permanent supports adjacent to water, stationary holding means on said permanent supports, vertically movable holding means on said permanent suports, and temporary supports over water: that improvement comprising the steps of laying the keel of said structure on said temporary supports, partially constructing said structure upwardly fro-m said keel, securing said vertically movable holding means to. said partially constructed structure, manipulating said vertically movable holding means to lift said partially constructed structure thereby transferring the gross weight thereof to said vertically movable holding means and freeing said temporary supports, removing said temporary supports, transferring the gross weight of said structure from said vertically movable holding means to said stationary holding means, adding more gross weight to said structure transferring the gross weight of said further partially constructed structure from said stationary means to said vertically movable holding means, manipulating said vertically movable holding means to lower said further partially constructed structure into water to such an extent that a portion only of the gross weight thereof is buoyantly supported, and transferring the remaining portion of the gross weight thereof from said vertically movable holding means to said stationary holding means.

6. In a method of constructing a buoyan structure, that improvement comprising carrying a portion of the gross weight of the structure during the construction, thereof on permanent land-based supports while at the same time buoyantly supporting the remainder of said gross weight and lowering said structure into water during such construction to such an extent relative to the stage of construction that the permato water which have stationary holding means thereon, providing vertically movable holding means on said permanent supports, providing temporary supports over water, laying the keel of said structure on said temporary supports, partially constructing said structure upwardly from said keel, removing said temporary supports and transferring the gross weight of said partially constructed structure from said temporary supports to said vertically movable holding means, lowering said partially constructed structure into water to such an extent that a portion only of its gross weight is buoyantly supported, and transferring the remaining portion of said gross weight from said vertically movable holding means to said stationary holding means.

8. In a method of constructing a buoyant structure with the use of permanent supports adjacent to water which have stationary holding means and vertically movable holding means thereon and with the use of temporary supports over water; that improvement comprising the steps of laying the keel of said structure on said temporary supports in horizontal position, partially constructing said structure upwardly from said keel, removing said temporary supports and transferring the gross weight of said partially constructed structure from said temporary supports to said vertically movable holding means, transferring said gross weight from said vertically movable holding means to said stationary holding means, further partially constructing said structure, transferring said gross weight from said stationary holding means to said vertically movable holding means, lowering said partially constructed structure into water to such an extent that a portion only of its gross weight is buoyantly supported, transferring the remaining portion of its gross weight from said verticallymovable holding means to said stationary holding means, still further-partially constructing said structure, transferring the gross weight of said still'further constructed structure to said vertically movable holding means, further lowering said structure so that at least a portion of the added weight resulting from said still further construction will be buoyantly supported, transferring the remainder of the gross weight of said still further partially constructed structure from said vertically movable holding means back to said stationary holding means, etc.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the permanent supports are capable of aggregatively safely carrying a predetermined dead weight, and wherein the portion of the gross weight of the partially constructed structure carried by said stationary supports never exceeds said predetermined safe tonnage.

10. In a method of constructing a buoyant structure with the use of permanent supports adjacent to water, stationary holding means on said permanent supports and vertically movable holding means on said permanent supports; that improvement comprising the steps of carrying the gross weight of said structure when partially constructed on said vertically movable holding means, manipulating said vertically movable holding means to lower said partially constructed structure into water to such an extent that a portion of the gross weight thereof is buoyantly supported and the remainder carried by said vertically movable holding means, transferring said additional weight to said partially constructed structure, transferring the weight carried by said stationary holding means to said vertically movable holding means, again lowering said structure by'manipulating said vertically movable holding means so that a greater portion of the gross weight of the structure is buoyantly supported and the remainder is carried by said vertically movable holding means, transferring said remainder to said stationary holding means, etc.

11. In a method of constructing a buoyant structure such as a caisson gate of relatively great height and length and narrow beam with the use of permanent supports adjacent to water, sttaionary holding means on said permanent supports and vertically movable holding means on said permanent supports; that improvement comprising the steps of carrying the gross weight of said structure when partially constructed on said vertically movable holding means, manipulating said vertically movable holding means to lower said partially constructed structure into water to such an extent that a portion of the gross weight thereof is buoyantly supported and the remainder carried by said vertically movable holding means, transferring said remainder from said vertically movable holding means to said stationary holding means, adding additional weight to said partially constructed structure, transferring the weight carried by said stationary holding means to said vertically movable holding means, again lowering said structure by manipulating said vertically movable holding means so that a greater portion of its gross weight is buoyantly supported and the remainder is carried by said vertically movable holding means, transferring said remainder to said stationary holding means, etc.

12. In a method of constructing a buoyant structure with the use of permanent supports adjacent to water which are capable of aggregatively safely carrying a predetermined gross weight, stationary holding means carried by said permanent supports and vertically movable holding means also carried by said permanent supports; that improvement comprising the steps of partially constructing said structure while the same is carried by said stationary holding means, and stopping such construction before the gross weight of the structure exceeds said predetermined dead weight, transferring said gross weight from said stationary holding means to such vertically movable holding means, manipulating said vertically movable holding means to lower said partially constructed structure into water to such an extent that a portion of the gross weight thereof is buoyantly supported and the remainder carried by said vertically movable holding means, transferring said remainder from said vertically movable holding meansto said stationary holding means, further partially constructing said structure thus adding weight thereto and stopping such further construction before the gross weight carried by said stationary holding means exceeds said predetermined dead weight, transferring the gross weight of said further partially constructed structure carried by said stationary holding means to said vertically movable holding means, manipulating said vertically movable holding means to lower said further partially constructed structure into water to such an extent that a greater portion of the gross weight thereof is buoyantly supported and the remainder carried by said vertically movable holding means, transferring said remainder to said stationary holding means, etc.

JACOB LOEWENSTEIN. 

